Safety probe as power shock puts teacher in hospital

30th January 2009, 12:00am

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Safety probe as power shock puts teacher in hospital

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/safety-probe-power-shock-puts-teacher-hospital

A teacher at a newly built school in Bradford is in hospital after suffering an electric shock while handling computer equipment.

The teacher, who has not been named, is said to have been using a laptop storage and charging trolley at Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College when he was hit by a powerful shock.

An inquiry is under way at the school, completed last summer as one of the first schools delivered under Bradford’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Richard Hughes, Buttershaw’s head, said: “While the investigation is taking place, the equipment will not be used to prevent any recurrence. The safety of our staff and students is our first priority.”

It is understood that no faults have been reported with similar units, and that static electricity could have been the cause of the shock.

Barry Grayburn, in charge of new school building in Bradford, confirmed that the teacher had been taken to hospital after the incident.

”(The teacher) was discharged on the same day and he is now recovering at home,” Mr Grayburn said.

“The safety of all staff and pupils is paramount and an extensive investigation of the equipment is being carried out by Amey, the contractors, and an independent electrical adviser.

“No faults have been found but the equipment will not be in use until the investigations have concluded,” he said.

Integrated Bradford, the agency behind the city’s school-building programme, said the same equipment was being used at two other BSF schools - Tong High and Titus Salt - which opened at the same time as Buttershaw. No fault had been reported at either.

An agency spokesperson said: “The investigation into the exact cause of this incident is ongoing. However, extensive expert independent testing has so far not returned any fault with the product and has confirmed it meets all applicable safety certifications.”

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